Cotswold Remedies : Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection

With our busy schedule, we often find the best way to achieve some downtime is to take a nice long and relaxing soak. So at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for new essential oil bath remedies to try, which is why we want to introduce you to this Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection from the new brand Cotswold Remedies; with their set of three bath oils: Relax, Restore, and Revive.

Cotswold Remedies started in a small kitchen in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founder Helen Ray got her inspiration to begin her skincare range during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she had time on her hands and wanted something to do. Helen said, "As a busy mum of two girls, juggling work and family life, I was always looking for the best products on the market to keep my skin looking great as I grew older. I wanted products that would keep my skin strong and supple as I entered my 40s but not blow my budget or require a complicated 10-step routine.” Once she completed her aromatherapy and organic skin formulation training, Helen rolled up her sleeves and got to work. It took her about 18 months to perfect a balanced formula for her bath oils range. The result was a range of products that delivered actual results at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end beauty products, all without compromising the quality of the ingredients. "I ended up improving them by stripping out any synthetic ingredients and adding more active ones."Cotswold Remedies officially launched in September 2021 and has been thriving ever since. The brand emphasises its use of 100% natural, organic, and ethical ingredients throughout the entire process. Cotswold Remedies products are also handmade in small batches to reduce the waste often produced by leftover products. Their range is also suitable for vegans and cruelty-free and is packaged in sustainable materials such as recyclable glass and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since its launch, the brand has already won a few awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, including Best Bath Oil for their Relax Bath Oil and two Editor’s Choice Awards for the Collagen Boost Face Oil and Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection. They also won Best Aromatherapy Diffuser in Wellbeing for their Essential Oil Reed Diffuser.

What is a bath oil? Bath oils are a blend of scented oils added to water for bathing. Often used for more of a spa-like experience, if combined with aromatherapy/essential oils, they can also be very therapeutic. When oil is mixed with water, the diluted oil can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing relaxation and rejuvenation. They can also help with blood circulation and joint fatigue. Some aromatherapy oils can even help fight bacterial or viral infections. Of course, the most known benefit of bath oils is how they improve your skin leaving a long-lasting fresh scent and radiant skin.

Today we’re featuring their Editor’s Choice award-winning Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection, which includes the Relax, Restore and Revive bath oils. All three bath oils contain caprylic/capric triglyceride, AKA fractionated coconut oil. This version of coconut oil is more liquid than regular coconut oil and is deeply nourishing and easily absorbed by the skin, making it ideal to use as a carrier oil. It’s also rich in hydrating properties to keep skin moisturised and feeling smooth and silky. These three bath oils also have tocopherol; a natural vitamin E added to slow oxidation and gives the products a longer shelf life. Finally, each of the trio of bath oils contains a unique blend of essential oils combined for a purpose.

Let’s begin with the Relax Bath Oil, which contains a blend of chamomile, vetivert, lavender, patchouli, and clary sage essential oils. This specific blend helps calm your mind and body to promote restful slumber. Both chamomile and lavender have a calming effect on the mind and body, these oils are known to alleviate stress and keep the mind and body relaxed. Vetivert and clary sage work together with their calming properties to prepare the body for a good night's sleep. Patchouli is used to have a grounding and balancing effect on the mind, especially emotions. Together, these ‘relax’ both mind and body and encourage restful sleep.

The Restore Bath Oil is designed to relieve tense and aching muscles and stress. It contains a blend of pine, fir needle, black spruce, cypress, juniper berry, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena essential oils. A mix of pine, fir needle, rosemary, and juniper berry can clear the head of negative thoughts and lets the mind focus. Black spruce, cypress, lemon verbena, geranium, and lavender all work together to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Eucalyptus works to release the tension and aches of muscles. The Restore blend clears the mind, relaxes aching muscles and generally helps the body to decompress.

The third bath oil in the set is Revive Bath Oil. This unique blend of grapefruit, sweet orange, pink and black peppercorn, cajeput, lime, pine leaf, rosemary, lemongrass, juniper berry and geranium essential oils are used to stimulate your senses and energise your body to help fight fatigue. The blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, pine leaf, cajeput, and lime peel energises the body and mind and helps the body ward off tiredness. Sweet orange, juniper fruit, geranium flower, and pink and black peppercorn are all-natural mood enhancers. These oils uplift spirits and instantly bring balance to emotions. Rosemary is used here for improving your memory and concentration - which we all need!

To use these bath oils, simply add 5ml or 2-3 spoonfuls of the oil to a warm bath. Cotswold Remedies recommends mixing the bath oil in the tub before getting in to fully disperse. Then step in, lie down, take a deep breath and relax; it's time to ease away all that stress.

We loved using this trio. Our favourite was Revive; the fragrance, in particular, resonated with us. All three little bottles of blended essential oil magic have become our #amazingfinds, and for good reasons, they work! If you need more of a good therapeutic soak, then these are a bath oil set we’d recommend. To purchase the three 10ml bottles, in the Therapeutic Bath Oil Collection for £14, click here.

Grass & Co : REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops & 300MG CBD Body Balm

Winding down after a busy day at work should be the best part of the day, and if you’re anything like us at The Amazing Blog, you’ll know only too well how challenging it is to get both body and mind to rest. Regular readers will know that we're big fans of CBD and on our journey, have gleaned much about this miracle hemp plant. Today we’re featuring two CBD products from Grass & Co - the REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops, which recently won ‘Best Product to Calm Anxiety Before Bed’ and Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm an’ Editor’s Choice’ at 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

When the UK and Europe legalised CBD in 2018, Toby Gordon-Smith found the opportunity to create something innovative in the health and wellness industry. He told TechRound  "Looking at the stories of how CBD has genuinely changed people's lives was all the inspiration I needed. I've been working in wellness supplements since 2009 and in consumer goods my whole career." That same year, Toby founded Grass & Co a CBD company that focuses on topicals and edibles in three ranges: Calm, Ease, and Rest. The brand's mission is simple. Grass & Co wants to help its consumers reconnect with nature. "Our mission is to help our customers reconnect with nature by launching only the highest quality CBD blended with great-tasting botanical ingredients and beneficial vitamins. Our unique product range and formulations inspire well-being and have been specially created to work with your body to deliver uplifting results." Grass & Co promises to source only the most ethical and legally grown in the EU- meaning they’re grown without using toxic chemicals or pesticides. All products are natural, sustainable, vegan and broad-spectrum and THC-free. They are best known for their unusual combination of botanicals, which in their CBD oils offers unique smooth flavours. Grass & Co also promises full transparency on the entire process with lab testing and results available here and are now widely available on Amazon and at Holland & Barrett.

The first product we're focusing on is the REST 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops, which have been created to help reduce fatigue, ensure feelings of wellbeing and aid a good night's sleep. This is the most potent one in the REST range; it contains 11% broad-spectrum CBD sourced from the hemp plant, which is also blended with hemp oil, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and MCT oil. MCT oil gives a smoothness in taste and a healthy dose of essential fatty acids. It also allows for a greater concentration of CBD to be absorbed into the bloodstream, and vitamin B5 is crucial to red blood cell production and stress hormones.

What's unique about this blend is the unusual combination of the three oils primarily used for flavour: Bergamot, lavender and hops extract (part of the hemp family), and we have to say, as a combination, it’s a very palatable one. Bergamot comes from the citrus bergamia plant indigenous to the Mediterranean and has properties that can reduce feelings of depression and reduce cholesterol and joint pain. Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils and for a good reason; apart from its healing properties, it also works as a mood enhancer. This oil promotes relaxation and can treat feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. The hops extract comes from the flowering part of the hop plant, which is also used in brewing beer. Hops are primarily taken for anxiety, sleep disorders, and symptoms of menopause. To find your balance, Grass & Co recommends starting with a low dosage and then slowly building up to a higher dosage. We took it sublingually with a couple of drops under the tongue at night to help calm our busy minds. As mentioned, it has an unusual and pleasant taste that’s very smooth and mild. Although we're more advocates of full-spectrum CBD oil, we'd buy more of this, just for the flavour alone. It has approx 28 drops (or dosages) in this 10ml bottle and it comes in a recyclable cardboard box; to purchase the Rest 1000mg (11%) CBD Oil Drops for £72.50. see here.

The second product we tried was the Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm, again probably best to be used before bed. It’s designed to help with any soreness, inflammation, or just for tired limbs and contains 300mg of CBD. Our regular readers will already know the benefits of applying CBD balms for their therapeutic properties. However, for the CBD newbies, the 300mg of CBD here will relax any aching joints.

Apart from the CBD, the base (or carrier) oils are soy, grapeseed, evening primrose, passionflower and sunflower. The other healing essential oils are rose geranium, rosemary leaf, and frankincense. Rose geranium, in addition to treating conditions such as acne and dry skin, is used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Rosemary helps ease pain and increase circulation and is particularly good for reducing anxiety and stress before bed. Lastly, we have frankincense, a resin from the boswellia tree, which will alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety and is a mood enhancer.

We like this natural CBD Body Balm because it's full of relaxation-inducing ingredients and can be used even on sensitive skin. We’d recommend massaging a liberal amount into aching limbs or stiff shoulders before bed, to allow it to work its magic. Or, in our case, working it intensively in between the finger joints (stiffness from too much typing!) This rich formula nourishes the skin and performs as a mild anti-inflammatory. Plus, the floral scent will help relax your mind and boost your mood. The 60ml Rest 300mg CBD Body Balm is available here for £39.50.

If you’re new to CBD, we think these two broad-spectrum products offer a brilliant starting point, they’ll work beautifully together to help ensure your body gets a well-earned rest.

Zalina : Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam

Here at The Amazing Blog, we strive to be ahead of the curve and be one of the first to reveal an exciting new beauty launch. Today, Zalina is that brand. Edwina recently judged their products at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards - it won her (and us) over with their award-winning ‘Best Zone-Targeted Beauty Product’ Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam; it’s a great little multitasker that won’t disappoint. 

As a certified health and lifestyle coach with a background in beauty, Zalina Walchi, founded her company Zalina in 2018 in order to make a positive impact on the world of health and beauty. Although her Swiss organic skincare only launched at the end of 2021. As a beauty, health and wellness brand, Zalina prides itself on having 100% organic, waterless and preservative-free products that focus on three themes: the purest natural ingredients, gentle effectiveness, and uncompromised freshness. All ingredients are sourced from sustainable, organic farms and are free from animal testing. It all began when Zalina couldn’t find affordable skincare that had the standard of quality, purity, and efficacy that she wanted to use on her own skin. Zalina said, "I'm very passionate about skincare and beauty. I am grateful to formulate products inspired by the warmth of the Caribbean, the energy of New York and the pristine purity of my surroundings here in Switzerland." What sets the brand apart is the supercritical plant extracts used to regenerate, repair, and improve skin health. They’re also about the microbiome (AKA microbiota), an ecosystem of bacteria on the skin's surface that protects against pathogens and balances skin and the immune system. The brand has excellent eco-credentials, where they only use biodegradable containers made from molten wood and bottles from renewable sugar cane materials. Zalina has also partnered with New Zealand company CarbonClick which helps fight climate change. When a product purchase is made online, there’s an option to click a green button, which adds a small contribution. This contribution purchases carbon offsets, which reduce the environmental impact of the carbon emissions generated from the purchase. All products are formulated in Switzerland under strict quality control, certification and standards and are European and Swiss certified organic, vegan, cruelty-free and Icada Clean Beauty and (soon) Ecocert. There’s also an online immersive beauty experience called the Zalina Seamless Beauty & Green Beauty Class, with education on her natural ingredients, application techniques for her products, and personal tips for your beauty routine.

The Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam is a multitasking product created for use on both the eyes and lips. Not many solo products have this dual-purpose, offering to nourish, hydrate and energise these areas of skin. It’s made up of eight 100% organic cold-pressed oils; karité, moringa, alpine rose, jojoba, wheat germ, rosehip, kukui, and chia.

Karité, (AKA shea butter), is an oil extracted from the fruit of a karite tree, with vitamins A and E, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Moringa is a non-fragrant plant oil that is full of antioxidants and vitamins. The Swiss alpine rose extract strengthens the skin's barrier function and protects skin proteins from oxidative stress and environmental damage. Jojoba is rich in fatty acids and has many skin-soothing properties. Wheatgerm softens skin and provides increased suppleness and strength. Rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and known for its cell regeneration. Kukui is a Hawaiian plant that has emollient properties like fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega-3, which help calm and reduce skin inflammation. Chia seed oil is non-fragrant, again it’s rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and shown to relieve dry skin and restore the skin's moisture barrier.

The Eye & Lip Balsam is gentle and is particularly good for the delicate skin around the eye. We should mention that it’s also very hydrating for the lips. It’s one of those great little multitaskers that needs to be close to hand on a desk or in a handbag. With its hydrating qualities, It certainly protected our lips against chapping, and when applied around the eyes, it felt soothing and worked as an excellent primer for makeup. Comprised of only eight organic oils, together these rejuvenate, protect and repair, it’s simple yet effective, which is why it’s another of our #amazingfinds. These hydrating oils give skin an all-around natural glow, lips feel smoother and softer, and around the eyes, fine lines plumped up. This is our little hero product, and the Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam can be purchased for 45 Swiss Francs here.

Wellgard : Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts

We love trying the latest superfoods and, at The Amazing Blog, we discovered Wellgard’s  Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder which has been formulated to help improve performance and cognitive resilience. It’s filled with many essential vitamins and recently came to light when it won ‘Best Health or Beauty Drink – Mix’ as a joint wellbeing award winner at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Wellgard is a wellbeing brand founded in 2016, with a variety of clinically proven supplements. All products are made in the UK, and the ingredients used in their products are simple, clean and backed by science. The company is part of the Bayagan Group, founded by Yousaf Sekander, its an organisation with a diverse group of companies in the wellbeing and beauty industry, including Swiftwhite and Procoal. The Bayagan Group has built a strong portfolio of brands and follows the emerging market trends, and taps into new opportunities. Wellgard’s philosophy is "Clinically Proven Formulas. Maximum Results.” It all started, when they noticed that some of the products in the supplement sector were either severely marked up or with exaggerated benefits. This is where they’ve strived to create beneficial supplements for their customers that are proven, and also come with prices that are not inflated, and has subsequently led to their online-only presence with a direct to customer sales model. Wellgard’s products are certified organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO and highly concentrated with many active compounds. They also ensure that every part of their packaging is 100% recyclable to ensure the smallest possible impact on the environment.

Wellgard’s latest product, the Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts, includes the world’s six most treasured mushrooms, and as they say, this extract is to help one “feel sharper, more focused, and ready to take on the day, every day.” First and foremost, they are keen to point out it is not a ‘mushroom powder, it’s a mushroom extract powder’. Mushroom powders and mushroom extract powders are not the same thing. It’s because 100kg of harvested mushrooms yields 10kg of mushroom powder. In contrast, 100kg of harvested mushrooms produces just 1kg of mushroom extract. Therefore, this is a highly concentrated extract.

All six mushrooms used have a long history of traditional use and increasing scientific evidence on their effectiveness and benefits for overall health and wellbeing. Organic shiitake mushroom is the first ingredient listed. This type of mushroom extract is known to support the immune system, and boost white blood cells to fight off microbes plus protect against cell damage. Organic lion’s mane mushroom is known to relieve mild symptoms of depression and anxiety and help as an anti-inflammatory. Organic cordyceps mushroom boost performance and energy levels and is used in traditional Chinese medicine to soothe the lung for fatigue or any respiratory diseases. The organic chaga mushroom helps immune health and is a rich source of antioxidants. Organic maitake mushroom reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar, and also supports immune function. Finally, the organic reishi mushroom is the sixth mushroom, used to improving sleep, lessening fatigue, and supporting the body with physical and mental stress. With all these 6 mushroom blends, it offers over 100 biologically active compounds. It’s important to point out that this mushroom extract powder is non-GMO, gluten-free, and free from irradiation. Plus, it is free from fillers, soy, preservatives, binders, and chemicals. It’s 100% organic!

The benefits of mushrooms are countless. This mushroom extract powder supports immune health, enhances brain function, boosts energy, reduces anxiety, and even slows ageing. Wellgard claims that their Vital Mushroom Powder contains five times more active compounds than other mushroom powders and is higher in quality and richer in critical active compounds, such as polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes. The formula is very concentrated and potent. Therefore, the daily serving is just 1 gram (recommended daily serving) and has five times the amount of active compounds containing 300mg polysaccharides; these provide dietary fibre that helps the digestive system and supports healthy gut flora. This mushroom complex is manufactured in a registered, approved, inspected state-of-the-art facility, with strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Each batch is 3rd Party Tested for Quality, Purity, and Potency.

What we love about this mushroom extract powder is that it’s easily dissolvable and can be added to nearly any food or drink (either cold or hot), and it’s so versatile. We’ve added mushroom extract powder to coffee, smoothies, and soups. It has a very mild and slightly umami taste (a fifth basic taste alongside sour, sweet, bitter, and salty) making it easy to add to almost any recipe. Therefore, this mushroom extract powder can be used to enhance stir-fries, stews or pasta adding a new depth of flavour without being overpowering. In fact, we’ve even experimented with using it in a batch of chocolate brownies (chocolate and mushrooms extract are an excellent combination) which were delicious!

It’s another of our #amazingfinds see here to purchase two months’ supply at 60g Wellgard’s Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder for £19.99.

Kiss The Moon : Glow Night-time Body Cream

Are you having trouble sleeping? Then let us introduce you to Kiss The Moon, an award-winning brand known for its night-time aromatherapy products created to help us get better sleep. Sleep, or lack of it, is an issue for us at The Amazing Blog, so we were thrilled to try Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-time Body Cream, which won Best Night-time Body Cream at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Kiss The Moon was founded by Jo Foster, inspired by her own goal to get her sleep back on track. Jo’s lack of sleep came from the international travel, and the stress she accumulated from her previous career in advertising. This is where she discovered the connection between poor sleep and poor skin and began experimenting with different oils when she could not find a simple solution to improve her troubled sleep. In an interview with Wow Beauty, she said, "My sleep suffered, and so did my skin and mood. I searched around for a solution and that's where I started understanding the link between sleep and our sense of smell." Scents can profoundly impact sleep because the sense of smell is controlled by the same part of the brain that maintains our sleep. Certain scents promote better sleep, help you wake up in the morning, and even influence your dreams. And this is when Jo began experimenting with blending essential oils, and in 2014 went on to launch her brand Kiss The Moon. As the brand grew, in 2019, she opened the first Beauty Sleep Boutique in Richmond, Yorkshire, "Our products not only help you get to sleep but also give your skin the nourishment it needs overnight as it repairs and regenerates." Kiss The Moon offers four different ranges Love, Glow, Dream, and Calm. Each collection has a unique blend of ingredients and essential oils, offering a different solution for an individual’s sleep and skin needs. They have a ‘matchmaker’ questionnaire here to help customers choose the right products. In an interview with Welltodoglobal, Jo states that she hopes Kiss The Moon will become a leading voice inputting night-time wellness on the health agenda; "We're the only company that specialises in products that are specifically designed to help improve your night-time wellness - both in terms of sleep and skin repair." They are a multi-award-winning brand, and all products are 100% natural, cruelty-free, not tested on animals, sustainable, made in the UK and Leaping Bunny approved. They also confirm that they do not sell or export their products to China or any other market which requires animal testing by law.

The Glow Night-time Body Cream is part of Kiss The Moon's Glow Range that incorporate a brightening blend of four key ingredients: bitter orange water, rose geranium, myrrh, and litsea. Together, these ingredients work to restore the skin's natural glow. The aroma from the bitter orange water lifts the spirit and encourages healthy circulation, at the same time, rose geranium is known to balance the skin's natural oil levels and offer its sweet floral scent. Myrrh is an ingredient often used to heal, and litsea oil is a citrus scent often used in Chinese medicine to help calm the mind. The Glow Night-time Body Cream helps give a better night's sleep and leaves you to wake up feeling refreshed. We love that it has lots of moisturising ingredients that leave skin feeling smooth and soft, with all the potent aromatherapy blended oils to help nourish and revive the skin. 

Some of the other natural ingredients included here are: Rosehip oil has a host of benefits high concentrations of vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin E it’s also known for skin regeneration and healing. Whipped shea butter for its highly moisturising, soothing and repairing properties. Mango seed butter softens the skin. Rosehip seed oil is full of antioxidants. Sunflower seed oil, a non-fragrant oil, is used for skin calming. Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, B, and E. Tocopherol, another source of vitamin E. Petitgrain leaf oil is a fragrant oil that eases feelings of tension, helps calm the nervous system, and promotes restful sleep. Finally, camellia sinensis helps boost the immune system, reduce stress and relieve depression and anxiety.

Confused about whether to choose a body cream, body lotion or body butter? Body Creams are typically thicker than body lotions, both are made up of water and oils. However, the main difference between body cream and body butter is the water to oil ratio. Body butter tends to have no water, whereas body creams are emollient based which enables them to penetrate the skin quicker. As body creams go, this Glow Night-Time Body Cream is exceptional. We found it surprisingly thick, creamy, and luxurious to the touch. Presented in a recyclable solid frosted glass jar, it’s stylish, weighty and easy to repurpose. Body creams are best applied at night, so they have time to absorb and properly hydrate the skin. We applied the cream before bed to our arms and hands, to reap the full benefits of its calming scent. Apart from helping us unwind, we found it had super-hydrating properties that helped moisturise any dry patches. It’s another of our #amazingfinds and one we’d recommend adding to your night-time routine. To purchase a 200ml jar of Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-Time Body Cream at £36 see here. They also have other UK stockists that can be found here